Marketing Content That Works

The Marketing Time Crunch

Marketing is supposed to bring in customers. But creating content consistently? That takes time you don’t have.

So you do it when you can. Which is rarely. Which means your marketing is inconsistent, and inconsistent marketing doesn’t work.

AI solves the time problem. Not by replacing your voice, but by handling the hard part: starting from blank.

The AI Marketing Workflow

Wrong approach: AI generates content → You post it

Right approach: AI generates content → You add your voice and specifics → You post it

That middle step is what separates generic AI content from content that sounds like you.

Social Media Posts

The problem: You need to post regularly, but staring at a blank caption is painful.

The solution:

AI: "Create 5 social media post ideas for my [type of business].

My audience is: [who they are]
My tone is: [professional/casual/fun/educational]
Topic: [what you want to promote or share]

For each post:
- Write the caption
- Suggest an image concept
- Include a call to action

Keep them conversational, not salesy."

Then you:

1. Pick the best option (or combine elements)
2. Add a specific detail from your actual business
3. Adjust the tone to match your voice
4. Post

Example transform:

AI output: “Spring cleaning season is here! Our organizing services can help you declutter your space and clear your mind. Book now for a fresh start! 🧹✨”

After your edit: “Just helped a client find $400 in gift cards buried in her junk drawer. Spring cleaning pays for itself. DM me if your closet has secrets too.”

The second version has personality, a real story, and sounds like a person.

Email Campaigns

The problem: Email marketing works, but writing campaigns is a slog.

Email newsletter structure:

AI: "Draft a monthly email newsletter for my [business type].

Subject line options (give me 3)
Preview text (what shows in inbox)

Content structure:
1. Personal opening (2-3 sentences)
2. Main value: [what you want to share - tip, announcement, story]
3. Secondary content: [product mention, upcoming offer, etc.]
4. Closing with clear CTA

My audience cares about: [their interests]
My offer this month: [if any]
Tone: Conversational, like writing to a friend who's interested in [topic]"

What to personalize:

• The opening personal note (share something real)
• Specific examples from your business
• Customer stories or testimonials
• Your unique perspective on the topic

Product/Service Descriptions

The problem: Describing what you sell is hard. You’re too close to it.

AI: "Write a product/service description for:

Product/service: [what it is]
Main benefit: [the #1 thing it does for customers]
Who it's for: [target customer]
Price point: [if relevant to messaging]
Differentiator: [what makes you different from alternatives]

Write it in [tone]. Focus on benefits, not features.
Include:
- A compelling headline
- 2-3 short paragraphs
- 3-5 bullet points of key benefits
- A call to action"

The key: Focus on what the customer gets, not what you provide.

Not: “We offer professional organizing services with certified consultants.” But: “Find anything in your home in under 30 seconds. No more hunting for keys.”

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

Blog/Article Content

The problem: Blog posts take hours. So you don’t write them.

Faster approach:

AI: "Write an outline for a blog post about [topic].

My audience: [who they are]
Their pain point: [what problem this addresses]
My unique angle: [what I know that others don't]

Create:
1. Attention-grabbing headline (3 options)
2. Opening hook (2-3 sentences)
3. Main sections with bullet points for each
4. Conclusion with takeaway
5. Call to action

Tone: [your voice]"

Then expand each section using AI for rough drafts, adding your examples and expertise.

Time savings: 4 hours → 1 hour (and often better because you don’t overthink it)

Content Batching

The real efficiency: Create content in batches.

Monthly content batch session (2 hours):

1. Brainstorm themes (15 min)

   AI: "Based on my business [type] and the upcoming month [month],
   suggest 4 content themes. Consider seasonal relevance,
   common customer questions, and industry trends."
   

2. Generate social posts (30 min)

   • 12-16 posts (3-4 per week)
   • Use your themes
   • Draft all at once

3. Draft newsletters (30 min)

   • 4 weekly emails OR 1-2 monthly emails
   • Outline all, write rough drafts

4. Edit and personalize (45 min)

   • Add your voice
   • Insert specific examples
   • Check for AI-isms to remove

Result: A month of content in one focused session.

Avoiding the AI Sound

Generic AI content has tells:

• Overly enthusiastic language (“Excited to announce!”)
• Empty buzzwords (“innovative,” “cutting-edge,” “game-changing”)
• Perfect grammar with no personality
• Vague claims with no specifics
• Predictable structure every time

How to fix it:

1. Add specific numbers and details
2. Share real customer stories
3. Include your opinions and preferences
4. Use your actual vocabulary
5. Break “rules” occasionally (start sentences with “And,” use fragments)

The Visual Side

AI can help with image ideas, even if you’re not using image generation:

AI: "I need to create an image for this post: [paste post]

I'm not a designer. Suggest:
1. A simple photo I could take with my phone
2. A stock photo concept I could search for
3. A Canva template type that would work
4. Text overlay suggestion if applicable"

Exercise: Create This Week’s Content

1. Pick one content type (social, email, or product description)
2. Use AI to generate 3 options
3. Choose the best one
4. Spend 5 minutes adding your voice and specifics
5. Schedule or save it

Time yourself. Notice how much faster this is than starting from scratch.

Key Takeaways

• AI solves the blank page problem—generating content is the hard part
• Never publish AI output directly; always add your voice and specifics
• Batch your content: create a month’s worth in one focused session
• Focus on benefits, not features; what customers get, not what you provide
• Watch for AI-isms: vague enthusiasm, buzzwords, perfect but bland language
• The edit is what makes it yours

Next: Scaling customer communications without losing the personal touch.

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into Customer Communications at Scale.